David Bryant
David began his fundraising career in 1980 by taking on the challenge of acid rain and nuclear power at Environmental Action, Inc.
Today, David is one of the industry’s most sought-after strategists. Over the course of more than two decades, he has created the top-line plans for dozens of organizations; developed prototype financial models that have evolved into today’s industry standards; designed advanced statistical reporting systems; and has led the analytical work for client fundraising programs and master file analyses. He has an extensive background working with computer systems, including fundraising databases, statistical programs, and modeling.
Over the course of his career, David has had a role in the launch and/or helped grow dozens of progressive organizations and political movements in the U.S. (see partial list below).
As an animal welfare advocate, David helped found Metro Ferals, a trap-neuter-release program for feral cats in the D.C. metro region.
Megan Contakes
For more than two decades, Megan has been a human rights, civil rights, and social justice activist.
She began her fundraising career in the early 1990s as an Amnesty International caller at Public Interest Communications. Since then, she has worked with more than a dozen organizations to design and implement direct response, foundation, major donor, and planned giving programs (see partial list below).
Megan’s principle expertise is in combining current events and programmatic work to craft winning fundraising messages. She is also recognized for her online/off-line integration skills as well as her ability to manage the operations of large-scale, multi-media, direct response programs.
Her experience at EDF as Director of Membership and Interactive Marketing gives her unique insight into the internal opportunities and challenges clients face—making her a valuable partner when negotiating for resources and managing board, executive leadership, and program staff expectations.
Megan is a former board member of The Reading Connection, Alexandria Community Services Board, Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission, and a founding board member of NARAL Virginia.
Michael Rooney
Michael’s experience, expertise, and outsized personality make him one of the most recognized individuals in the progressive fundraising community.
His boundless energy and relentless pursuit of progressive ideals have propelled him from street canvasser to one of the industry’s most respected idea leaders.
Michael’s principle expertise is in helping organizations leverage their substantive program work and position their external messages and fundraising communications to maximize the performance of their development programs. Over the course of 22 years, Michael has helped dozens of national and international nonprofits become some of the largest and most effective organizations in the U.S. (see partial list below).
Michael serves on the board of ActionAid USA—the U.S. affiliate of ActionAid International, a global anti-poverty organization; and he the chairman of the anti-racism committee at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Virginia.